Soren flays Lalu for ruling out alternative Jharkhand government

Ranchi, Feb 1 (IANS) Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) chief and former chief minister Shibu Soren Sunday flayed Railways Minister and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad for ruling out the possibility of forming an alternative government in Jharkhand. “The United Progressive Alliance (UPA) is not the fiefdom of Lalu Prasad. UPA is an alliance of different political parties. The alliance partners of UPA will decide on forming an alternative government in the state,” Soren told reporters here.

“Let Lalu give statements. He will soon understand the alliance ‘dharma’,” the former chief minister said.

The RJD chief had Friday said in New Delhi that there was no possibility of forming an alternative government in Jharkhand, and elections were only option left.

The JMM chief had Wednesday said he will go to New Delhi after Feb 5 to hold discussions with the UPA leaders on formation of an alternative government in the state.

Jharkhand is currently under president’s rule, following political uncertainty after Soren resigned Jan 12 following his defeat in a crucial by-election and the UPA unable to arrive at a consensus on his successor.

However, former chief minister Madhu Koda, a close confidant of Lalu Prasad, said that formation of an alternative government is still alive in the state and the bigger political parties of UPA should initiate the process.

JMM had Wednesday proposed two new names for next chief minister of the state - former agriculture minister and party legislator Nalin Soren and another legislator Salkhan Soren.

Earlier, Shibu Soren had proposed the name of JMM legislator Champai Soren as next chief minister after he resigned. However, this was opposed by the Congress and RJD and no consensus could be reached on his successor.

As no proposal for an alternative government came, Governor Syed Sibte Razi recommended president’s rule which was imposed Jan 19.